Saudi Arabia is investing $800 billion to establish tourism projects and destinations. According to Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi minister of Tourism and chairman of the executive council of the UN Tourism, “This will be the highest number of tourism investments in the world.”
The minister emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s efforts will transform the global tourism map. “The opportunities and facilities we provide to investors will make the tourism sector more attractive, and we are proceeding in a distinctive way in building the sector,” he added.
Al Khateeb made these remarks while addressing a conference on “Investing in tourism: opportunities and challenges in sustainable financing,” held on the sidelines of the 50th UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East in Muscat, Oman.
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Ambitious tourism growth targets for Saudi Arabia
The minister said Saudi Arabia aims to add more than 250,000 rooms to the tourism hospitality sector in the coming years, representing a significant expansion of tourism in the region. He stressed that the development of the tourism sector is a key part of Saudi Vision 2030, noting that the sector’s contribution to the Saudi economy has risen from 3 percent to 4.5 percent by the end of last year, with a target of 10 percent by 2030.
Developing human resources for the tourism sector
Attracting and training national human resources are crucial factors for developing the tourism sector in the region, according to Al Khateeb. He said the Saudi Ministry of Tourism is paying great attention to qualifying national cadres working in the sector and attracting young Saudi men and women to this vital industry.
Cooperating with Middle East countries on tourism development
Furthermore, Al Khateeb stated that Saudi Arabia is working in cooperation with other UN Tourism member states in the Middle East to develop the region’s tourism sector due to its global importance. “The countries of the region have all the requirements for successful investment in the tourism sector,” he said, highlighting the region’s great potential and natural resources that make it one of the world’s most important tourist destinations.
The minister said the countries in the region are moving as a unified bloc in the right direction to develop the tourism sector, having already begun to formulate plans and strategies to capitalize on this promising industry.
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